James Shin, an electrical engineering major from Hoschton, Georgia, has received a 2025 Marshall Scholarship. He will study physics at the University of Cambridge and public policy at the University of Oxford to advance engineering in space.
Shin has coupled his academic program with research in the Space Systems Design Laboratory and the Dynamics and Control System Laboratory at Georgia Tech, where he worked on various problems, including printed circuit boards (PCBs) that could withstand the harsh conditions of space. His expertise in resilient technology earned him coveted internships at Blue Origin and SpaceX, where he was a 2024 Matthew Isakowitz Fellow.
As his space policy professor, Dr. Thomas González Roberts, notes, “James is a star. At Georgia Tech, he has artfully combined his skills and interests in electrical engineering and international affairs to address critical space policy issues. He’s dedicated to working hard to develop hard-earned technical skills, but also not afraid to wade deep into big questions of international coordination, sustainability, and security in outer space.”
Outside of research and academics, Shin embraces challenges as opportunities. He served as advisor to SEED, an organization that encourages first-year students to push themselves beyond their comfort zones, and he led by example when he ran his first marathon. An avid rock climber, he served as an instructor and elected officer for Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech (ORGT), where he helped to onboard new student staff and led instructional trips.
Shin also demonstrates his commitment to community in other campus activities. Inspired by high school friends stricken with blood cancer, he co-founded the Georgia Tech chapter of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). In that organization, he has spoken to more than 500 students, 90 of whom joined the bone marrow registry. He also supports his fellow Stamps Presidents Scholars as a student assistant, organizing Scholars’ weekend, a two-day event attended by more than 350 people. Chaffee Viets, Director of the Office of Scholar Programs, shared that James’ ambitions and goals will “provide the world with someone who will connect what is most important about space exploration and activity that helps all of us right here on Earth.”
James says that the Marshall Scholarship will provide him with “an incredible opportunity to engage with UK space research, industry, and policy.”
By facilitating the development of my research capabilities within the field of extreme-environment electronics and enabling an international education in public policy, the Marshall will propel me towards my goal of harnessing technology and policy to promote the development of a sustainable, coordinated, and secure space domain.
Shin will join a class of 36 Marshall Scholars pursuing advanced degrees in the United Kingdom in 2025. Scholars are selected for their academic excellence, leadership, and ambassadorial potential. Georgia Tech’s Prestigious Fellowship advisor, Georgia Brunner, said, “James embodies the very best qualities of a Marshall Scholar through his excellent research and servant leadership. It has been a pleasure to watch James grow throughout his application process, and I am thrilled to see how he will represent Georgia Tech as a scholar and leader in this next chapter of his life.”
For more information about the Marshall Scholarship or other nationally and internationally competitive awards, please contact Georgia Brunner at georgia.brunner@gatech.edu or schedule an appointment with Prestigious Fellowships at advisor.gatech.edu.